Ex-chancellor Lord Lawson has said David Cameron should start modelling his premiership on Margaret Thatcher and not on Tony Blair.

In a pointed criticism of Mr Cameron, he said the party leader had "a lot to learn" from Baroness Thatcher's methods - and was out of step with Tory MPs in favouring the recent Labour model.

"There are basically two models of long-term premiership in recent memory: Margaret Thatcher and Tony Blair," he suggested.

"David Cameron has modelled himself very much on the Blair style. I think the Conservative backbenchers prefer the Thatcher style.

"I do think he has a lot to learn from her. And I think Blair is a bad role model except in that particular time in history of changing the Labour Party which had to be done.

"He was brilliant at that but I don't think that applies to the Conservative Party at all. I don't think there is any read across."